GBP Chapter 442 Everything's arranged, time to head home.
Chapter 442 Everything's arranged, time to head home.
Chapter 442 Everything's arranged, time to head home.
Upon arriving at the Black Mountain Mine, Wen Luozhi stopped the carriage and almost didn't recognize the person walking towards her.
The head constable, with most of his head wrapped in white cloth, some scratches on his face, and swollen eyes, limped toward her, leaning on a stick.
"Damn it! What terrible luck!" he cursed as he walked, perhaps because he was in a bad mood and didn't smile at Wen Luozhi as he used to.
Wen Luozhi suppressed a laugh and feigned surprise, "My goodness, sir, what happened to you? Are you alright?"
As soon as someone got close, she could smell an extremely pungent medicinal odor, indicating that she was seriously injured.
Upon hearing her words, the head constable cursed the criminals at the mine for being unlucky, saying they had worn away all his good fortune and he had been having the worst luck lately, even choking on his water.
Because he was so unlucky that he could fall even on flat ground, the brothers were afraid of catching his bad luck and kept their distance from him. Seeing him was like a chicken seeing a weasel.
Wen Luozhi offered a few words of feigned comfort, but the head constable noticed that she had brought in far more goods than usual that day.
"Why did you bring so much this time?" He was a little unhappy. Usually, if there was less, he, the boss, could eat better. But if there was more, wouldn't everyone have to eat it?
Wen Luozhi smiled and told him that this was the last time she would come, so she should bring more.
Even though Wen Luozhi had told him before that she would leave in two or three months, he still couldn't accept it so suddenly.
Of course, it's not that he's reluctant to part with it; it's just that he managed to get a good price off Wen Luozhi's things, and a significant portion of it went into his own pocket.
And they always bring me things, so who will feed me for free now that they're gone?
He said a few words of regret, looking very sad.
Wen Luozhi sneered inwardly and, as usual, took a basket of things out of the carriage.
The head constable was immediately delighted, turned his back, flipped through the contents, and quickly covered it up.
"Not bad, not bad, you're a really honest merchant!"
He laughed so hard his teeth were showing, and for a moment he felt none of his injuries hurt anymore.
Wen Luozhi smiled and, craning her neck slightly, saw a patch of green not far away, which stood out particularly against the gray mining landscape.
"Hey? Sir? Do you grow something at this mine?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
It was only when this was mentioned that the head constable remembered that those people from the Duke's Mansion should be arriving soon.
He said to Wen Luozhi, "A few prisoners grow some vegetables to give us as a token of their appreciation; you know what, it's actually quite nice."
The head constable looked smug, as if he were someone revered by everyone, and began to boast.
Wen Luozhi smiled ingratiatingly, thinking to herself that a lot of the silver Helian Yue sent must have ended up in these people's pockets.
Filial piety? Heh, guarding prisoners in this southern wilderness must be a lucrative job; one can make a fortune from all the money in the world.
The official finished speaking and was about to chase Helian Yu and the others away to work when Wen Luozhi's eyes darted around as she pleaded, "Sir, could you take me to see them? I want to see something interesting."
"This..." The head constable hesitated, glancing intentionally or unintentionally into her carriage.
Wen Luozhi immediately reached out and took out another large bag of things.
The head constable immediately accepted it with a beaming smile and hugged it tightly to his chest.
"Wait for me. Wait until I've put my things away, then come with me."
With a basket on his back and a large bundle, he walked with remarkable steadiness, leaning on his cane as he quickly made his way to the mine where he was resting, afraid of being seen by others and having them approach him.
After waiting for quite a while, he finally came out of the cave and beckoned people to follow him.
Wen Luozhi led Helian Zhiyan behind them. Along the way, they passed several mines where people were working and a few people were watching over them. Anyone who was a little slow would be whipped.
Helian Zhiyan was a little frightened and gripped Wen Luozhi's hand tightly.
When they arrived at those plots of land, Helian Yu and the others were pulling up small weeds.
Wen Luozhi glanced at it briefly and had to admit that the service was quite good.
"Stop working, all of you! Get back to the mine and don't even think about slacking off!"
Lan Cai straightened up and immediately saw Helian Zhiyan. Afraid that she might make a mistake, she glanced at him and quickly lowered her head.
Wen Luozhi was talking to the head constable to distract him, and the family behind her was the closest this time.
Helian Zhiyan reached out and quietly touched Lan Cai's hand. The mother and daughter blinked and smiled at each other.
Wen Luozhi glanced back, then turned around, pointing here and there and asking questions as if she had never seen the world before, buying them some time.
Just before leaving, the head constable gave Wen Luozhi some silver, and this time he actually rounded it down by seven taels.
Wen Luozhi gave a forced smile, comforting herself as she watched his retreating figure.
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay! There are bad luck charms on the bundle and the basket.
After returning home, she spent a few more days there. She then called Miao Qian and the others to tell them that she would be leaving in another half month and that the matters concerning the pepper field needed to be arranged.
Now the two town mayors and the town official were all in a dilemma. Even though she had given them instructions several times and even written a booklet in advance, they were still afraid that they would not do a good job.
After all, this was a long-term plan, and it was the first time they had undertaken such a major undertaking.
"Constantly being timid and hesitant is useless; you only know by doing something."
Wen Luozhi said this, and the group fell into deep thought.
She had already spoken to Fang Da and his two brothers, and upon hearing that she would be managing one of them, she confidently patted her chest and said she could do it well.
The next period of time was spent "teaching" the three of them to ensure that nothing went wrong after I left.
In Granny Mi's house, Helian Zhiyan was moving among three grown men, teaching them to recognize and write characters.
Wei Yi stared at the screen, his eyes glazing over, trying to remember how to pronounce the characters he had just learned.
Fang Daxue was dozing off when the little girl hit him on the calf with a stick.
Fang Da woke up with a pain in his calf and immediately perked up.
"Uncle Dafang, you should learn from Uncle Erfang and Uncle Wei. Look how diligent they are."
Fang Da chuckled and looked at his two brothers beside him. Although they looked worried, they were very serious.
He picked up his pen and began practicing the few words he had just learned, while Helian Zhiyan brainwashed the three of them from the side.
"My three good uncles, you will be the ones helping my Uncle Wen do great things in the future!"
"How can someone destined for great things be illiterate? They'll be a laughingstock! They'll suffer greatly later."
She kept talking, and Fang Da and the others thought she made sense, so the next day they simply stopped setting up their stall and asked her to teach them a few more words.
The three of them had "I want to improve" written all over their faces. Wen Luozhi never expected them to be so motivated.
Miao Qian and the others finally came to their senses and started coming to Wen Luozhi every day, asking her to tell them more about the later stages of the story.
The first batch of Sichuan peppercorns planted is about to be harvested, and those in the desolate town who planted Sichuan peppercorn trees are eagerly anticipating it.
It only takes seven or eight days from picking to drying, and everyone felt like they were dreaming when they got the money.
Every household outside the government office gave a small token of appreciation and sent some gifts to Miao Qian and his family.
The harvest was so fast because government officials were mobilized to help.
Moved to tears, Miao Qian wiped his face and said, "What are you all doing? Quickly take these vegetables and eggs back for the elderly and children at home."
Yin En, who was leading the group, smiled and said, "Please accept this token of everyone's goodwill, Mr. Miao."